A List of Cannabis Fines and Infractions
(Listed by Province)
Now that cannabis has been legalized in Canada, individual provinces are finalizing laws and regulations concerning cannabis and cannabis consumption. Some provinces are much more severe than others, and the differences can vary greatly. To help you navigate these new laws, we’ve compiled a list of fines and punishments by each province for offences such as driving while high to provincial by-laws and growing your own cannabis at home.
Penalties for Driving High
It really doesn’t matter which province you’re in, driving while high is illegal everywhere in Canada. The best way to avoid the penalties listed below, is to not drive high.
First Offense
Seizure of driver’s license for 90 days.
Vehicle impounded for 3 days – driver responsible for towing fees.
$200 fine.
Second Offense
Seizure of driver’s license for 90 days.
Vehicle impounded for 7 days.
$300 fine.
Possible driving course.
Third Offense
Seizure of driver’s license for 90 days.
Vehicle impounded for 30 days.
$400 fine.
Mandatory driving course.
Possible mandatory ignition interlock (the device that measures THC or blood-alcohol level in blood in order to power vehicle)
More information on driving penalties in B.C. can be found on the government website.
Alberta
First Offense
Immediate 90-day licence suspension.
Immediate 3-day vehicle seizure.
Mandatory driving course.
One-year participation in an ignition interlock program.
$1,000 fine.
Second Offense
Immediate 90-day licence suspension.
Mandatory driving course.
One-year participation in an ignition interlock program.
Mandatory 30-day imprisonment.
Third Offense
Mandatory driving course.
One-year participation in an ignition interlock program.
Mandatory 120-day imprisonment.
The information above was found on the government of Alberta’s website.
Saskatchewan
First Offense
License suspension for 3 days.
Impounded vehicle for 3 days.
Mandatory driving course.
New Criminal Code Charges
Immediate driver’s licence suspension until the court has disposed of the charge.
30-day vehicle seizure – vehicle owner responsible for towing and impound fees.
60-day suspension if driver is also impaired by alcohol.
Upon conviction
One-year driving suspension to a maximum of 5 years.
Fine of $1,250 to $2,500.
Mandatory driving course.
More information related to the above can be found on th.e Government of Saskatchewan’s website.
Manitoba
First Offense
Suspension of driver’s license for one year.
Possible 18 month imprisonment
$1,000 fine.
Second Offense
5 year suspension of driver’s license.
Minimum 30 days imprisonment.
Third Offense
10 year suspension of driver’s license.
Minimum 120 days imprisonment.
Accident that leads to bodily harm or death
5 year suspension of driver’s license.
Possible 10 year imprisonment.
More information can be found on the website of Manitoba Public Insurance.
Ontario
The Ontario Ministry of Transportation lists three different categories of penalty: offense without indictment, charges, and court convictions.
First Offense
3 day suspension of license.
$250 fine.
Second Offense
7 day suspension of driver’s license.
Mandatory education program costing $350.
Third Offense
30 day suspension of license.
Treatment program.
Ignition interlock device for 6 months.
$450 fine.
Mandatory medical exam.
Court Convictions – First Offense
Licence suspension of at least 1 year.
Mandatory education or treatment program.
Ignition interlock device for at least 1 year.
Mandatory medical evaluation.
Court Convictions – Second Offense
Licence suspension of at least 3 years.
Mandatory education or treatment program.
Ignition interlock device for at least 3 years.
Mandatory medical evaluation.
Court Convictions – Third Offense
Lifetime licence suspension.
Mandatory education or treatment programs.
Ignition interlock device for at least 6 years.
Quebec
First Offense
Immediate suspension of license for 90 days.
Possible suspension of license for one year.
$1,000 fine.
Second Offense
$2,000 fine.
Prison sentence with period determined by court.
More information about Quebec’s driving penalties can be found on the SAAQ.
Prince Edward Island
Like Ontario, the Government of Prince Edward Island also separates penalties into three structures.
First Offense
1 day license suspension.
7 day driving ban
vehicle impounded for 30 days.
Second Offense
1 day suspension of your license.
7 day driving ban
vehicle impounded for 60 days.
Charge
Vehicle impounded for 60 days.
Court Convictions – First Offense
1 year revocation of driver’s license.
1 year driving ban.
Court Convictions – Second Offense
5 year revocation of driver’s license.
2 year driving ban.
Court Convictions – Third Offense
5 year revocation of driver’s license.
3 year driving ban.
New Brunswick
The province of New Brunswick is the least clear of all the provinces about penalties related to driving while high. On the Government of New Brunswick‘s website, they list some possible punishments and/or penalties:
Short-term suspension
Immediate short-term roadside suspensions.
Licence suspension
An administrative licence suspension program.
Vehicle impoundment
Discretionary and mandatory vehicle impoundment for short-term and administrative licence suspensions.
Re-education course
Participation in a re-education course for drug-impaired drivers.
Reinstatement fees
Licence reinstatement fees.
Zero tolerance
Zero tolerance for novice drivers and those under 21 years of age.
Nova Scotia
First Offense
$1,000 fine.
1 year licence suspension.
Second Offense
Imprisonment of up to 30 days.
3 year licence suspension.
Third Offense
Imprisonment of up to 120 day.
5 year licence suspension.
Forth Offense
Indefinite revocation of licence.
More information can be found here.
Newfoundland
First Offense
Vehicle impounded for 7 days.
1 year driving ban.
$600 fine.
Mandatory driving course.
Second Offense
Vehicle impounded for 7 days.
3 year driving ban.
14 days jail time.
Mandatory medical exam.
Third Offense
10 year driving ban.
90 days imprisonment.
Mandatory medical exam.
More information can be found on the Government of Newfoundland & Labrador‘s website, as well as DUI.ca.
Growing Your Own
Fresh Ingredients
Most provinces will allow Canadians to grow their own cannabis at home, with Manitoba and Quebec being the exception. View the varying rules and regulations by province below.
Saskatchewan
Manitoba
Ontario
Quebec
Prince Edward Island
New Brunswick
Nova Scotia
Newfoundland
Rules and Bylaws
Most provinces will allow Canadians to grow their own cannabis at home, with Manitoba and Quebec being the exception. View the varying rules and regulations by province below.
British Columbia
Age of legal consumption:
Legal age is 19+
Where to buy:
Both government and privately-run storefronts and online sales.
Grow your own?:
Up to four plants, out of public sight.
Where to smoke?:
Prohibited in cars, in areas frequented by children, and wherever tobacco is restricted.
Other notes:
Landlords can restrict cultivation and smoking on their properties.
B.C. marijuana legalization laws.
Alberta
Age of legal consumption:
Legal age is 18+
Where to buy:
Privately-run retail stores and government-operated online sales.
Grow your own?:
Up to four plants, subject to restrictions from landlords.
Where to smoke?:
Prohibited in cars, in areas frequented by children, and wherever tobacco is restricted.
Other notes:
Kids are banned from entering cannabis stores, even with adult accompaniment.
Alberta marijuana legalization laws.
Saskatchewan
Age of legal consumption:
Legal age is 19+
Where to buy:
Privately-run storefronts and online sales.
Grow your own?:
Up to four plants, subject to landlord restrictions.
Where to smoke?:
Only on private property and in private residences, restricted use around minors.
Other notes:
Number of retail licenses issued will be restricted for first three years of legalization.
Saskatchewan marijuana legalization laws.
Manitoba
Age of legal consumption:
Legal age is 19+
Where to buy:
Privately-run storefronts and online sales.
Grow your own?:
Not permitted, check with your Manitoba Government for a current update.
Where to smoke?:
Only in private residences.
Other notes:
Legal age is one year above drinking age. It’s prohibited to sell cannabis to someone who is impaired by alcohol or other substances. Municipalities can hold a referendum to ban cannabis stores in their community.
Manitoba marijuana legalization laws.
Quebec
Age of legal consumption:
Legal age is 19+
Where to buy:
Online sales initially and then private retail shops by April 2019.
Grow your own?:
Up to four plants.
Where to smoke?:
Only on private property, subject to landlord restrictions.
Other notes:
Municipalities will have a “one time window” during which they will be able to opt-out of having cannabis stores within their boundaries.
Ontario marijuana legalization laws.
Prince Edward Island
Age of legal consumption:
Legal age is 19+
Where to buy:
Government-operated retail locations and online sales.
Grow your own?:
Up to four plants, so long as they’re not accessible to minors.
Where to smoke?:
Only on private residences, with some exceptions for certain public spaces.
Other notes:
PEI will have four government-owned retail locations for cannabis in 2018 in Charlottetown, Summerside, Montague, and West Prince.
P.E.I. marijuana legalization laws.
New Brunswick
Age of legal consumption:
Legal age is 19+
Where to buy:
Government-operated retail locations and online sales.
Grow your own?:
Up to four plants.
Where to smoke?:
Only on private property and in private residences.
.
Other notes:
20 cannabis stores will open in July 2018. All cannabis grown outdoors must be located behind a locked enclosure that is 1.52 metres high. Landlords can restrict cultivation and smoking on their properties..
New Brunswick marijuana legalization laws.
Nova Scotia
Age of legal consumption:
Legal age is 19+
Where to buy:
Government-operated retail locations and online sales.
Grow your own?:
Up to four plants.
Where to smoke?:
Only where tobacco may be smoked, subject to landlord restrictions.
.
Other notes:
9 cannabis stores currently confirmed in: Amherst, Dartmouth, Halifax, Lower Sackville, New Glasgow, Sydney River, Truro and Yarmouth.
Nova Scotia marijuana legalization laws.
Newfoundland
Age of legal consumption:
Legal age is 19+
Where to buy:
Privately-run licensed storefronts and government-operated online sales.
Grow your own?:
Up to four plants.
Where to smoke?:
Only on private property and in private residences.
.
Other notes:
Some shops will be run by Tweed, a subsidiary of cannabis giant Canopy Growth.
N.L. marijuana legalization laws.
Northwest Territories
Age of legal consumption:
Legal age is 19+
Where to buy:
Privately-run liquor stores and government-operated online sales.
Grow your own?:
Up to four plants.
Where to smoke?:
On private property and in private residences. Smoking will also be allowed on trails, highways, streets, roads and in parks when they are not in use for public events.
.
Other notes:
Cannabis will initially be sold in existing liquor stores, with possibility of cannabis-only stores in the future. Individual communities will be able to enact cannabis restrictions and/or prohibitions. Landlords will also be able to declare their properties smoke-free.
N.W.T. marijuana legalization laws
Nunavut
Age of legal consumption:
Legal age is 19+
Where to buy:
Established online vendors will be invited to sell in Nunavut, and private businesses can apply for a licence to sell cannabis, but consultation requirements mean no stores will open in 2018.
Grow your own?:
Not banned, but the provincial government will regulate whether or not plants can be grown at home in the future.
Where to smoke?:
Not permitted in public places, other than a designated cannabis lounge or permitted event.
.
Other notes:
The offical Inuktitut name for cannabis is “surrarnaqtuq”.
Nunavut marijuana legalization law.
Yukon
Age of legal consumption:
Legal age is 19+
Where to buy:
Government-operated storefronts and online sales.
Grow your own?:
Up to four plants, out of public sight.
Where to smoke?:
Only on private property and in private residences, subject to landlord restrictions.
.